Jan Bidwell Gaunt is hoping that three times is the charm. The social worker who ran unsuccessfully for the State Assembly in 2003 and 2005 is expected to again become the Democratic nominee in the heavily-Republican 40th district. She will run with former Little Falls Councilman John Agostinelli for the seats currently occupied by Republicans David Russo (R-Ridgewood) and Scott Rumana (R-Wayne).
The two Democrats will have the line in Passaic County, and they are presumed to be the organization candidates in Bergen and Essex as well.
Russo and Rumana face a primary challenge from businessmen Joseph Caruso and Anthony Rottino. Agostinelli lost a bid for Little Falls Mayor last year, and unsuccessfully sought the backing of the Passaic County Democratic organization to run for Freeholder in 2009.
The 40th district has been held by Republicans without interruption since the state went to a 40-district legislative map for the 1973 election. Russo won the seat in 1989 when he ousted incumbent Walter Kern, a former Assembly Judiciary Committee Chairman who had been disbarred after a routine audit of his law practice trust account.
